Association of the Classical Universities of Russia (ACUR)

Transcription

1 Presentation for the BioN 3 rd Project Management Meeting Association of the Classical Universities of Russia (ACUR) Evgeniya Karavaeva, PhD Olesya Zorina, MSc 05 May 2011

2 ACUR p Non-governmental organization founded in 2001 by 24 classical universities n Focused on keeping traditions and maintaining integrity of classical university education in Russia p Currently has 42 member institutions: n Wide range of educational (Bachelor, Master and Specialist) and post-doctoral programs in mathematics, natural sciences, humanities, social sciences and economics n Recognized research potential n Significant importance for the regional development p President Viktor Sadovnichy, Rector of Lomonossov Moscow State University

3 ACUR p coordinates and organizes joint inter-university projects in curriculum development and fundamental research p facilitates international cooperation of the Russian universities p interacts with the Russian Ministry of Education and Science p takes part in the development of the new system of public and professional accreditation of university study programs and of the new forms of quality assurance at classical universities of Russia.

4 ACUR involvement in European projects From 2007 to the present time ACUR took part in a number of projects within a framework of the European TEMPUS and ERASMUS MUNDUS programs: n n n n TEMPUS-1-FI-TEMPUS-JPCR Post-graduate Training Network in Biotechnology of Neurosciences (BioN) Tempus SM_SCM-T035B (RU) A Russian TuningECTS based-model for the Implementation of the Bologna Process in Human Sciences (RHUSTE) EM FI-ERAMUNDUS- ECW-LOT4 Integration Interaction and Institutions (Triple I) The largest project was started in 2010 in consortium with 11 Russian higher education institutions: TEMPUS ES-TEMPUS-JPCR TUNING RUSSIA: Creating a network of Tuning centers in Russian universities

5 Higher education in Russia According to the new Law on Education the mandatory transition of all Russian higher educational institutions to the new system (Bachelor and Master levels) will be completed in Note: currently more than 90% graduates in Russia get the degree of Specialist Diploma (after 5 years of continuous studies) Currently more that 400 Federal Education Standards (FES HPE) of the Bachelor and Master level are being adopted by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.

6 New FES HPE p Provide the educational framework by regulating ~50% of the content of Bachelor s and 30% of the Master s program p Set the requirements related to: n results of studies (in terms of general cultural and professional competences); n structure of educational programs (mandatory cycles of disciplines and parts of the program ); n implementation of educational programs (including mandatory use of the credit units similar to ECTS) p Over 60 FES in classical education fields were developed under ACUR guidance

7 Model educational programs p According to the Russian law on education higher educational institutions develop Bachelor, Master and Specialist-level educational programs based on the FES HPE and on model educational programs (примерные образовательные программы) that: n serve as a recommendation only n must include study plan (curriculum) and courses syllabi p ACUR developed and received approval for over 60 model educational programs in the areas of natural and life sciences and humanities under a commission from Russian Ministry of Education and Science

8 Postgraduate Programs (аспирантура) p Candidature (equivalent to PhD) and doctoral (advanced academic degree) programs in Russia are traditionally not considered a part of tertiary education, but rather a post-higher education system (послевузовское образование) p A draft of the new law On the education in the Russian Federation considers postgraduate programs as a third cycle of higher education n Currently in the public review stage n Will be reviewed for the first time by the State Duma (Russian legislative body) no earlier than the autumn of 2011

9 Postgraduate Programs p In March 2011 the Russian Ministry of Education and Science approved the unified Federal National Requirements (FNR) (федеральные государственные требования) that set the specifications regarding the post-higher education programs and make use of competencies and credit units p In the immediate future the Ministry and the Higher Attestation Commission will organize a development of model postgraduate programs for each scientific domain (примерные образователь-ные программы послевузовского образования по каждой отрасли наук)

10 New FNR in Russia Section Course credits Required subjects 11 of which elective courses 5 Optional subjects* 13 Practical training** 3 Total number of taught credits 27 Research and thesis work 165 Preparing to defend a PhD thesis 15 Examinations 3 Total number of research credits 183 Total number of credits required*** 210 * can be skipped or replaced with any taught or research credits ** can be replaced with taught or research credits *** expected time to completion of a degree is 3 years

11 Postgraduate programs in Russia p The new Regulations on Licensing and Accreditation approved in March 2011 by the Russian Federal Government establish a simpler way of licensing and accreditation of educational programs: n Information on the study program or study plan is not required when applying for a license n General information on the study program must be included in the list of documents needed for accreditation; the study plan must conform to the FNR but does not have to be detailed; can be renewed internally by the institution

12 Difficulties in the FNR realization p Logic behind the FNR is significantly different from the Federal National Educational Standards (FNES) that govern Master programs p No smooth transition from the Master and Specialist-level educational programs, due to lack of a unified classification system: n Higher education programs (Master, Specialist) are enumerated by a list of 28 core knowledge areas (областей знаний) n Post-higher education programs are regulated by a Nomenclature of academic specializations that contains 19 scientific domains (отраслей наук) and is approved by the Higher Attestation Commission p No official acknowledgment for partially completed postgraduate programs

13 Outlook p It is expected that the new law On the education in the Russian Federation (anticipated in the end of 2012 beginning of 2013): n will make postgraduate programs a third cycle of higher education (PhD) n will create sequential classification system and educational standards for Master and PhD programs n will legally endorse a notion of network-based educational programs

14 Summary p ACUR developed over 60 Federal Educational Standards and Model Educational Programs (Bachelor and Master level) and continues to develop study plans and syllabi p ACUR proposed the methodology of using ECTS and modular structure of educational programs for the new Federal Educational Standards in Russia p ACUR developed, as pilot projects, a number of integrated educational programs at the Master- Doctoral level n Master-level programs (based on FNES) n Doctoral-level programs (based on FNR) p ACUR conducts research of academic mobility in Russia and abroad

15 ACUR prospects for the future p ACUR plans to actively participate in developing the model educational programs for the post-higher education programs using new FNR as a guideline p ACUR will collaborate with the Russian Ministry of Education and Science on developing a legal basis for network-based educational programs p In the autumn of 2011 ACUR offers to organize a seminar and a joint tutorial workshop for BioN consortium members and policy makers (e.g. Higher Attestation Commission ) to address the development of postgraduate and additional education programs in the light of the new FNR

16 Contacts Evgeniya Karavaeva, ACUR Executive Director Artur Demchuk, Coordinator, ACUR Center for Academic Mobility Olesya Zorina, ACUR Consultant on Educational Programs in Life Sciences in Europe and USA Phone: